It's also a good way for the Wings and their prospects to gauge their graduates to their other top prospects. A little challenge for them all.

I think he was there last year too. That's the perk of having your old man as the coach. You get to train with the best franchise in the NHL and learn some s*** from some quality prospects and improve his game. 5'09, 150 lbs sounds like a Hampus Jr, not Babcock.

I think we should start hearing some news come out of the Development Camp that starts Wednesday. Here, read this....

Interesting to see Danny D there, too. I guess Kenny still had some questions in his mind?

They had invited Danny D on an optional basis. If he wanted to attend, he was more than welcome to and would be welcomed to help train and advise the youngsters in the pipeline. Originally it was reported that he was going to attend in that role but is not currently anymore. I'm not sure what had happened between those dates or anything. I just know that it was optional for him, and that was their plan heading into it.

Mike Babcock's kid has been there for at least the past few years. It has to be nice being able to share the ice with some of the best prospects and learning from them. On top of dealing with an outstanding group of advisers.

Helmer's true test won't be until around the 12-13th after they play their intra squad scrimmage on the 12th. I would have to believe that's when he'll really push it and be able to see where he stands. That is, of course, if he doesn't re-agitate beforehand.

No. Actually it is two people but there is a spelling error on the roster. I'm here in TC, and I saw it too. Funny - they were born a month and a half apart, both play goalie and both here at the same time.

The only Chelios I've seen is Dean. My friend George Malik said that Jake is at Chicago's camp doing pretty much the same thing his brother's doing here.

"Guys were pushing me around a little bit," Helm said. "We were doing some battle drills. I don't think guys were going too hard on me. I think they understand what the situation is but it was nice to get pushed around, to push back.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he spoke with forward Darren Helm last week in British Columbia, Canada and the progress report he got back was good.

Helm played in one regular-season game last season and missed all of the playoffs with a back injury. He skated at the Red Wings development camp in Traverse City last month.

“Everything’s good,” Holland said. “He feels good. He’s training. I know he trained very hard last week. He’s in Detroit. He’s very happy where he’s at. He has no issues. Obviously, the challenge is physical play. I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Holland is hoping Helm will be able to come to training camp next month without any issues.

“Getting banged around, that’s part of his game,” Holland said. “That’s part of what makes him special. He’s physical. He’s on the puck. He finishes body checks. He goes to hard areas.

“I’m sure early on we’ll probably go light with him in preseason games. But in order to be able to play the first game of the year against Buffalo on Oct. 2, he’s going to have to play three or four preseason games. My feeling is if he’s in the lineup against Buffalo we’re feeling pretty good about things.”

Helm would be a huge boost to the team’s depth as their third-line center. The Wings were essentially without an entire third line last season with Helm, Todd Bertuzzi (back) and Mikael Samuelsson (multiple injuries) limited to a combined 12 games.